Pre-order your copy of Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl in print or digital - Add this book to your Goodreads "Want to Read" list
|
“Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is a contemporary fairy tale that weaves perfectly the cautionary and the heartfelt, exploring themes of new love, idealism, desperation, deception, sacrifice, forgiveness, and understanding.”
— Ai Jiang, Nebula and Bram Stoker Award winner and Hugo Award finalist of A Palace Near the Wind and Linghun “P.A. Cornell is a master of her craft, with a keen eye for the most important things that make us human. Utterly engrossing and imbued with charm, this illustrated novelette of an alternate Toronto is a delight to read. It’s bound to put a smile on your face.” — Stewart C Baker, author of The Butterfly Disjunct: And Other Stories “A hard-worn romance that means it, the hope and commitment we need right now, from the best writer called P. Cornell.” — Paul Cornell, author of I Walk With Monsters, the Lychford novels, and writer on Doctor Who “P.A. Cornell takes us on a starstruck journey of love and devotion in Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl. In a combination of noir and science fiction—with a lot of love thrown in—Cornell has the chops to mix genres, blend emotions, and steal hearts. If you think you’re ready for this one, get your ticket, and hold on tight.” — Jordan Kurella, Nebula Nominated Author of I Never Liked You Anyway “P. A. Cornell, one of the best storytellers working today, has crafted the cozy noir you didn’t know you needed. A sweet retro scifi tale that improbably channels both Hammett and O. Henry, it features a femme fatale with smarts and moxie you’ll adore as much as Shoeshine Boy. The beating heart of this story will stay with you long after the jig is up.” — R.S.A. Garcia, Sturgeon and Nebula award-winning author of The Nightward “Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is a delightful mashup of all those wonderful old (Depression-era) movies with a tasty SF twist as “moon”-eyed lovers pin their hopes on each other but must deal with a thorough scoundrel first. Enjoy!” — Julie E. Czerneda, author of Imaginings and To Each This World “Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is a charming tale of love and dreams, and how they fare against the dangers of the world. A retrofuture fable that endears and inspires in equal measure, highlighted by its detailed prose and heartfelt characters. A perfect love letter of a story for Valentines Day!” — Harvey Hamer, Diamond Dimensions Universe author and Star Wars Insider contributor “Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is a fun, nostalgic romp through an alternate Toronto with a laser-focused message: love conquers all. Cornell’s prose is as clear and crisp as a mountain spring, and you’ll be rooting for her characters from page one. With plenty of action and a bold sincerity that pervades so much of Cornell’s work, this book will leave you smiling, eager for Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl’s next grand adventure.” — Derrick Boden, Sturgeon Award finalist author featured in Lightspeed and Clarkesworld “Set in a wonderous retrofuturistic Toronto, Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl delivers an endearing—and timeless—romantic romp at a time when we need these stories most.” — Pedro Iniguez, Bram Stoker and Elgin Award-winner, and author of Echoes and Embers: Speculative Stories “Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is a clever modern parable that imagines an alternative Toronto and the dreamers who reside within. Full of deception and resilience, this short tale will leave its readers aching for more.” — Nathaniel Luscombe, author of Moon Soul |
“This book has everything: A con woman with a heart of gold. The idealistic young man who wants to give her the moon. The swindler determined to drive a wedge between the young lovers. All set in a retro-futuristic Toronto with hovercars and airships galore. What’s not to love?”
— Rachael K. Jones, two-time Hugo Award Finalist and author of Every River Runs to Salt “Shoeshine Boy and Cigarette Girl is a disarming retrofuture romance full of moxie, gumption, and well-deserved comeuppances. P. A. Cornell’s deft pickpocketing of elements from noir and SF will steal your heart and leave you cheering for the power of love, loyalty, and a great pair of shoes.” — Katrina Archer, author of The Tree of Souls and editor of Little Blue Marble magazine “It’s impossible not to fall in love with Shoeshine Boy’s earnest hope and Cigarette Girl’s scrappy sweetness. A charming retrofuture Toronto is the perfect backdrop for the story of this delightful couple. P.A. Cornell promises us the moon, and she definitely delivers!” — Julia Rios, Hugo and Bram Stoker Award-winning editor “Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl feels like a classic tale with a delightful sprinkling of retro space dreams. In this zingy and charming story, you can’t help but fall in love with Cigarette Girl and Shoeshine Boy and will quickly find yourself rooting for their sweet nature against the harsh realities of the world. The writing is filled with vivid descriptions that make the story pop right off the page.” — Jesse Reid, author of Bran Finds His Feathers “A heartfelt story about trust, love, and the other unsaid things that light the path to our dreams; even to the moon. I read it in one sitting!” — Eliane Boey, author of Club Contango “P.A. Cornell gives us a fun romantic tale set in a retrofuturistic Toronto. A story not only about fulfilled love but also of trust and care for each other. Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl will leave you smiling and wishing for more happy endings.” — Renan Bernardo, Nebula and Ignyte finalist and author of Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle “P.A. Cornell has written a mischievous, big-hearted sci-fi love story with a Transatlantic accent. Shoeshine Boy and Cigarette Girl gleams like a retro-futuristic rocketship--or like a lovingly polished shoe.” — Nebula and Eugie Foster Award finalist Aimee Ogden, author of What Any Dead Thing Wants “A pacy and engaging retrofuturistic romp of love, deception, and the power of following your dreams. All the way through, I was hooked by the smooth writing, killer concepts, twists and turns, and the uniquely compelling characters. Highly recommend it!” — Lyndsey Croal, author of Limelight and Other Stories and Dark Crescent “An adorable little retro-future story with lovable characters that pulls off a happy ending gift-of-the-magi twist like a rabbit out of a hat.” — Tina Connolly, Hugo-nominated author of Ironskin “With a tenderness reminiscent of The Little Prince, Cornell has crafted a comforting retrofuture love story that is brimming with optimism.” — Angela Liu, Hugo, Nebula, Ignyte, Rhysling, Locus, and Astounding Award finalist writer |
